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xero: trazodone & other med CT after 20 days


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Posted (edited)

xero: trazodone & other med CT after 20 days. Side effects (vision) . Any help or support will help. Success stories? etc New here. sry for sporadic post.

 

hey everyone just found this site and i thought id reach out. I know many of you are still on medication and some are going on taper plans to get off but i just want to know everyone's experience w/ trazodone. Also please let me know if you did it alone and w/ nothing else.

 

Around September i was suffering panic attacks and led me to be prescribed something for my anxiety & insomnia. I was prescribed hydroxyzine 25MG up to 3 times a day as needed for the anxiety and one dose of the trazodone 50MG at bedtime. I took the Traz. from 10/19 to 11/6 and the last time i used the hydrox. was on 11/8

 

I took only half (25MG) the tzd for 3 days as directed because of me never being on any sort of medication like this plus i don't weigh much so the dr started me slow but i felt it not making a difference so she told me to start taking the whole pill as the bottle said. I would take it with a small snack etc and i maybe had success for 2 days but eventually I'd still wake up and have a very uneasy feeling of paranoia and stress. Like my thoughts were more dark and scary than before. Heart felt weird etc. 

 

After a while in November i started to feel that a depression followed me at work which didn't happen at first when i was on these things. I also noticed that my tinnitus would flare up a lot more and be way more persistent through the day. So basiclally the 1st Wednesday of November i got a very strange auditory hallucination upon waking from a dream about my small dog. My dogs sleep in my room with me and when i looked down at them they were sound asleep also i knew it wasn't the dogs out in the neighborhood because the sound was clear as day like the bark came from inside my room. My gf was even on the line that night and awake because we would pass out together some nights over the phone and i asked her if she heard it or maybe it was her dog since she was on speaker. She said she didn't hear a thing. At that point i didn't want the stuff in my body anymore. That sound alongside the creeping depression at work and insane dreams i didnt want it anymore.

 

 decided on my own on that Thursday to go back to 25MG because of how uneasy and hopeless i started feeling. I told my doc the morning after and she didn't really reply. Still didn't sleep well but no weird sound etc just an extreme uneasy feeling inmy head after waking up about 3 hours on the dot. felt like hell.

 

Now i know you need to go on a taper plan these days but since it hadn't even been a month i said screw it ill cut the half to another half basically a quarter of the pill on friday because on a couple hours before i took it i got these strange electric jolt through my right arm to my finger when i was talking to my mother sitting down, I told myself Friday should be my last day because i felt like trash and uneasy. Friday was ridiculous and i only slept 2 hours just sitting there in a sort of manic state.

 

My nurse prac. finally got back to me and gave me the green light to stop it if i was getting those intense feelings. She told me if i needed to still use the hydroxyzine i could still use it for the anxiety but i didnt like that stuff either. So comes the weekend. Man my body went into a mode of extreme discomfort and depression. I never had issues with self harm but the feeling of hopelessness i got was so extreme that i felt like i could do nothing for myself. Saturday night i got to bed and my eyes were going crazy when i shut them. had vague closed eye visuals because if such rapid back and forth movement. Sunday morning i noticed a heavier blue field entoptic phenomenon going on when id look up at the morning sky. i knew something was up. i went for a run to try to get some of my anxiety out and after a good run still had the depressed and uneasy feeling. so here comes Sunday night when i feel that everything has changed. I was basically ready to go to the hospital but i managed through my panic but that night i noticed my vision was doing ridiculous things. Longer after images and my peripheral vision had vague flickering. Not the kind that comes from blood pressure either like when your pulse is felt on the eyes. it was some thing else. i didn't sleep at all and my dad monitored me through the night and said id sleep but wake up in a jerking motion within minutes. I remember my breathe feeling funny too, But mainly my thoughts and vision felt hyper sensitive.

 

Since going Cold turkey that weekend i've noticed more darker floaters and weird visual phenomena with certain lighting. I see certain lights hit walls w/ texture and ill see it flicker vaguely like a candle thats dying out. Also strangely when i apply a blur light filter on my phone the amber color seems to do something to gradients on my phone. When i look at an image of certain wallpapers (gradient type ones) under certain circumstances i see the corners of the screen pulsate a bit. Sometimes it happens w/ my computer screen too. I remember the 1st week after that weekend i had a handful of persistent side effects warm feeling on my feet and legs and hands, tingling needle like sensations on my body but to be honest most of these symptoms went away within a week and a half somehow.  My visual issues and floaters are still there. Since that week i've been to many eye Drs and even a retinal specialist. No detachment and just a small hole on the right that got lasered around but they couldn't explain my visuals. They even told me eyes looked okay and i even have 20/20. Nerves look ok etc. Even got an MRI on my head recently the scan came out negative just some signs of sinus pressure nut no abnormalities and good blood flow etc.

 

I'm on day 35 of being off of the trazodone and the antihistamine but these visual issues seem to show up in new places and recently on monday 12/7 i started to get very dull headaches here and there. This morning i got sore tonsils but i used to have this issue before i took medications so im gonna assume its a sinus issue but my eyes dont stop looking reasons to mess with me. last week my bathroom started to flicker on its own. Not an intense flicker but like the thing that happens when someone uses a Buzzsaw outside and the power inside the house sort of dims for a bit. imagine that but at a constant rate.

 

I know this post is sporadic and im not hoping to find a magic cure. I kind of feel this is irreversible but i just wanted to hear anyones experience with Trazodone. In particular if you did it alone and not with other anit depressants. I only took it for 20 days! and thought i was good to just drop it but man have a noticed my thinking and vision have shifted to a weird level. I;ve been changing my diet since that day and even doing the gym thing a lot. Cut sugars. I dont smoke, drink alc. or even use caffeine. Although i will say that i was a daily cannabis user for about 7yrs before i had my 1st panic attack in September. I basically cold turkied weed august this year after 7 yrs because i wanted to change.

 

If any of you left trazodone cold turkey or even weened pls let me know and how long did until you felt a little normal again. I NEVER had any sort of anti depression meds before this time in my life. I just drank here and there in my early 20s and used a couple psychedelics years ago (shrooms, acid) but never used it to an extreme. I've never had visual problems till i stooped this stuff and now i got these dull headaches here and there.

 

Anyone got any success stories or personal timeline of leaving trazodone? im on day 35 being off it as i mentioned earlier and so many of the side effects have basically gone away or are barely noticeable but man these visual issues is something none of these doctors can explain. I dont want to touch that stuff ever again., The dark hopelessness it gave me is something i never want to feel again. I still super vivid dreams but i can sleep some night now at least an accumulated 5-6 hrs lol i even got my sex drive back which i felt i was losing on these things. 

 

if you got this far and can share any experience please do. All i ever did was trazodone and an anti histamine called trazodone for 20 days and now i feel like my sight is tainted.

 

thank you for reading cheers.  

 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
added topic title to post before reducing topic title

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • manymoretodays changed the title to xero: trazodone & other med CT after 20 days. Side effects (vision) . Any help or support will help. Success stories? etc New here. sry for sporadic post.
  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

Hi @xero and welcome,

 

 

I'm very sorry to hear about your situation, but you seem to be doing what you know might help to get better, and that's a great step towards healing. With that mindset I'm convinced you'll be okay eventually.

 

Would you mind creating a drug signature so we can better know how to help you? Here's a guide on how to do that:

 

How to put your drug history in your signature

 

Depending on how long ago it was that you stopped taking the drug, reinstatement might work. You mention you have been off the trazodone for 35 days. Reinstatement usually works within the first 3 months after the last dose, but it's never a guarantee it will help so it is up to each individual. If you decide to reinstate, these links has a lot of valuable information, mainly the first one for now:

 

Reinstatement

 

Tapering off trazodone

 

It's best to not make any sudden changes. If you consider making any changes regarding any drug or supplement it's a good idea to ask here first, since it can sometimes make things worse. If you decide to reinstate, it's a good idea to ask the moderators here through your introduction topic beforehand. This topic is the best place to write about your specific situation.

 

Take care and please keep us updated.

 

 

2011-2015: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 20 mg, Voxra 300 mg (quit Voxra in late 2015, no issues)

2016: Started tapering Escitalopram 5 mg at a time, every fourth week

July 24th, 2016: Escitalopram 5 mg

April 2nd, 2017: Quit last dosage (WD worsened a lot)

Ca 6 last months of 2017: Taking Diazepam 15-25 mg irregularly, less than once a month

Ca Dec 2017: Out of Diazepam, i.e free from all prescribed drugs

Now: Still drug free

Supplements: Irregular intake of Omega-3, magnesium, vitamin D.

  • ChessieCat changed the title to xero: trazodone & other med CT after 20 days
  • Administrator
Posted

Welcome, Xero. Over the last 2 weeks, how has your symptom pattern changed? What is your sleep pattern? 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Posted
6 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Welcome, Xero. Over the last 2 weeks, how has your symptom pattern changed? What is your sleep pattern? 

Honestly the only symptoms I still feel that I got are here and there I get a bit of paranoia and hopelessness. Also the vision stuff. Floaters, weird flickers when it comes to certain lighting. It was so unsettling at first but it's like the week I started to practice some acceptance and try to work through these symptoms and find a window I started to get these dull headaches behind the head in both sides. They're not debilitating at this point but so annoying. Also my tinnitus has been tamer since I got off the meds but now with these headaches It's been flaring up more than usual. Both types. High pitch frequency and pulsating. The headaches started on Monday and I hope it's infection/sinus related because around Thursday of that week I started to get swollen tonsils and scratchy throat. (Also got an MRI on my head recently and it was negative. They just mentioned some pressure near my sinus area but nothing extreme or abnormal) I got No fever or intense cough. Currently my tonsils are better but the scratchy throat is still there and headaches are still lingering daily.  I've had issues with tonsils swelling before medication so I don't want to overthink it even though I do feel after CT of these things my body and nervous system have been like a roller coaster. 

As for my sleep it's honestly not as horrifying as it was on the trazodone. Some nights I can fit in 5-6 hours of incremental sleep which is more than I got on meds. My dreams are still super vivid and for a while were disturbing. For a couple weeks after the meds I was trying different doses of melatonin but honestly it didn't help and I felt that my dreams were extremely vivid on it. I've been trying to apply more CBTi techniques to my sleep to get my brain adjusted. The nice thing is at night even if some nights I feel weird I can still manage to pass out. I'm just bothered by the weird little headaches I've got recently. I'm frightened of even over the counter meds at this point because it's only been 37 somdays since I got off trazadone and hydroxyzine. I don't wanna take another antihistamine and send my body and brain into another spiral. I still wake up some nights from weird dreams with a little anxiety and palpations but I've been managing it somehow. But as I lay there trying to fall back asleep I get funny twitches and brief ear ringing that's Louder than usual. So it's a battle some nights. 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Administrator
Posted

Are you sensitive to light?

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see
https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Posted
Just now, xero said:

Actually yes I am taking that  also im not sensitive to light although it does have a higher glare effect since I went CT  like the led ones at stores or in industrial buildings. I wouldn't say it's double but they shine way brighter than before the meds.I take one 1000mg fish oil supplement in the morning and 400 mg of magnesium glycinate with it. Also been using a b complex, d3, and vit c. The fish oil I was doing 2 pills of about a week ago and those were 1200mg but I got this new brand and these are only 1000 and I only take one. I've been doing this a couple weeks now. I wonder if my drop In fish oil could cause effects? 

 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Administrator
Posted

If glare bothers you, you might wear tinted glasses indoors and outdoors, to reduce light stimulation, which can be an ingredient in keeping your nervous system riled up.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Posted
1 minute ago, Altostrata said:

If glare bothers you, you might wear tinted glasses indoors and outdoors, to reduce light stimulation, which can be an ingredient in keeping your nervous system riled up.

Definitely gonna look into that. Just really wish these little headaches would bug off 😓 thx for your replies

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

They are called blue light glasses or gaming glasses.  I wear them at work and find them really good.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

Posted
26 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

They are called blue light glasses or gaming glasses.  I wear them at work and find them really good.

Well I've actually got two types of BL glasses some cheap ones from Walmart that aren't bad for driving got the yellow tint and these other ones I got made from lens crafters that are armani frames haha. But the nicer ones are clear framed with blue light tech. I think I want a darker tint but with a similar style so I'll go to a glasses store again and try to use my insurance to get some newer frames. I've heard good things about a tint called dl41 from the visual snow community. 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

Mine are a light brown lens.  They are only cheap ones (the postage was more than the glasses) which I got on eBay or Amazon.  They are over glasses because I wear prescription glasses.

 

These are like the ones like I bought.  No affiliation!

 

Here they are in both colours - black or brown.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Really wish there was more literature on short term discontinuation. I'll try to make this one of my last dreadful post about my problem because I feel that attitude is a huge key in healing. I've only ever been prescribed trazodone for sleep 50mg at night and hydroxyzine when needed. Those are the only meds I've ever consumed in my life besides using weed for 7yrs but I stopped that CT in September. But the medications I was given I only did for 19 days after very weird and unpleasant side effects. My Dr told me to CT essentially because I hadn't had them in my system for that long I guess.

 

Today is day 52 of being off them. Since them I've gotten waves of symptoms like some parathesia, hopelessness, weird dull head pains on the back of my head every now and then, very vivid dreams, stronger tinnitus, weird issues with my heart beat and breath and most importantly my vision issues. My eyes check out well and my brain MRI came out clean thank God but I've dealt with such strange visual phenomena that hasn't really subsided (flickering on peripheral, way more darker floaters and other strange pulsating that happens with certain color gradients, and a pattern glare that's consistent. Basically with the right amount of contrast any solid line(s) will vibrate. )

 

I really hope that half a year from now I'm able to cope better with all of this. I want to stop being in this state of dread and looking for answers. I know all of our bodies are different and I've been trying different things. I haven't gone to the gym in some weeks because of covid but I've been trying supplements and a different diet. Mainly vit C,D3 zinc, lutein,magnesium glycinate, and fish oils. Also I've been on a b complex but I've been reading that it may not be necessary if I eat the right foods.

 

I know this group and even the ones on facebook are filled with veterans who are/were on a cocktail of meds and are surviving. I only did two for less than a month and only one of them was an AD and I feel horrible. I feel like my brain is weaker than so many peoples. Don't get me wrong I get some windows at night. And I work a VERY physically demanding job in the day which I'm surprised I can manage to this point.I actually don't sleep terrible but Im so bummed out that my vision quality has changed. It really is the center point of my dread. I also find it hard to relate to so many survivors because you all have served in longer wars and most of you actually tapered. I never want those things in my body again. I'm frightened to reinstate.

 

I do feel safer off them then on them right now but man what I'd give to just deal with my panic and insomnia like a normal 29 yr old fella. I never really had any depression or mood issues. Now I'm left with an intense dread and regret. I think after a couple months I'll stop looking for short term survivors. It seems too rare. And most ppl don't have issues with trazodone which makes me feel more isolated. Some ppl love it. I still think this site is very powerful overall and so many ppl have been good to me. Also reading some of the recovery stories is so helpful. But I need to change my attitude. I don't think I'll find that much info on short term use and CT. If you guys got anything than I'd obviously love to hear it but I know most of you are hard veterans and it saddens me that most side effects I see ppl talk about aren't vision related. But I love you all regardless. I do pray and wish you all well on this journey. This community is filled with some of the most compassionate people I've ever seen. 

Cheers from Texas. 

Edited by Altostrata
added line breaks

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

@xeroPlease note I moved your last post to your introduction topic. Please do not start any more intro topics. By continuing to post in this thread, you'll keep all of your information in one place. Thank you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Administrator
Posted

@xeroif you had adverse effects from the drugs while you were taking them, you may be one of those people who just don't get along with the drugs. Even if they took the drugs for only a few days, these people have lasting symptoms that are very similar to withdrawal syndrome -- waves of symptoms being very typical -- and gradually fade with time. You can find them by clicking on the tag "immediate adr", such as has been applied to this topic.

 

People who feel immediate, severe adverse effects from a drug while they are taking it should not reinstate the drug.

 

It sounds to me like many of your symptoms are visual. Light sensitivity may be the key to this. If you cut down light stimulation by wearing tinted glasses and turning the lights down, this sensitivity should gradually go away.

 

Your brain is not weaker, you suffered adverse drug effects. Please stop blaming yourself. These drugs are being prescribed so widely, it's not your fault you tried a common solution. Please be patient, let yourself heal, and let us know how you're doing.

 

 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Posted
11 minutes ago, Altostrata said:

@xeroif you had adverse effects from the drugs while you were taking them, you may be one of those people who just don't get along with the drugs. Even if they took the drugs for only a few days, these people have lasting symptoms that are very similar to withdrawal syndrome -- waves of symptoms being very typical -- and gradually fade with time. You can find them by clicking on the tag "immediate adr", such as has been applied to this topic.

 

People who feel immediate, severe adverse effects from a drug while they are taking it should not reinstate the drug.

 

It sounds to me like many of your symptoms are visual. Light sensitivity may be the key to this. If you cut down light stimulation by wearing tinted glasses and turning the lights down, this sensitivity should gradually go away.

 

Your brain is not weaker, you suffered adverse drug effects. Please stop blaming yourself. These drugs are being prescribed so widely, it's not your fault you tried a common solution. Please be patient, let yourself heal, and let us know how you're doing.

 

 

I appreciate that alto. I'll be updating this thread every other week or so because it really feels like a place where I can  express myself during this evolution of mine. Even though I have the tinniest bit of hope my vision will be like it used to be I do want to Improve my attitude and be less hard on myself. It's just so tiring with these things and the reactions they bring even after using them. Just when you think you're ready to handle one symptom other ones come up. After March

 I'll honestly be done digging around so much and by then I'll have all my appointments out the way with my eye DRs/specialists and cardiologist. I've realized that I've gotta give myself a break because having health anxiety (which I already had before I took the med) is like adding diesel to the fire of my withdrawal. I can do this. I honestly just need to slowly adjust my attitude. Baby steps. 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • Administrator
Posted

I know it's very frustrating but patience is the key. Self-blame does nothing good, it just adds to the discomfort.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Posted

@xero

 

I am on trazadone 50mg and have tried to stop twice, not in the correct way and before coming to this site. 
 

I hope your symptoms go away after the short term use and think they definitely will. 
 

But this is what I really wanted to share: I have A LOT of experience with marijuana withdrawal in terms of insomnia. To me weed was the unlimited sleep aid, always went to bed stoned. When I’d try to stop over the years I couldn’t sleep and I’d go back to it and give up. 
 

I ended up going to rehab in 2012 but at that time I also drank. Anyway, because I couldn’t sleep in rehab ( at all ) they put me on trazadone and I’ve taken it since. I’ve been sober since 2012. 
 

 My main point is that many people who smoke weed for years have sleep issues when they stop. It’s a major topic in aa and na. 
 

-humanist. 
 

 

1998 -2000 started and stopped several SSRIs because of bad reactions, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin
2004 to 2006 Prozac 20mg

2004  Klonepin(daily 15 days)VERY bad cold turkey reaction after 15 days of use. 
2012, rehab inpatient alcohol, marijuana (sober since)

2012- present trazadone 50mg (At bedtime) tried twice to stop. 
2012-2017 Prozac 20mg, stopped Prozac CT without many problems. 

12/16/20- present lexapro 10 mg

12/27/20 started rapid lexapro taper 2.5mg every 2 days after only 11 days of use. Drug interaction problems with  trazadone suspected. 
1/2/21 last day of lexapro
1/321 now trying to stabilize on trazadone enough to begin taper. I was not using the trazadone in a consistent  way starting in late October and it thru me into wd  like symptoms. I was taking it at wildly different times each day because my sleep schedule (bed time) would fluctuate. 

 

Posted
9 hours ago, Humanist56 said:

@xero

 

I am on trazadone 50mg and have tried to stop twice, not in the correct way and before coming to this site. 
 

I hope your symptoms go away after the short term use and think they definitely will. 
 

But this is what I really wanted to share: I have A LOT of experience with marijuana withdrawal in terms of insomnia. To me weed was the unlimited sleep aid, always went to bed stoned. When I’d try to stop over the years I couldn’t sleep and I’d go back to it and give up. 
 

I ended up going to rehab in 2012 but at that time I also drank. Anyway, because I couldn’t sleep in rehab ( at all ) they put me on trazadone and I’ve taken it since. I’ve been sober since 2012. 
 

 My main point is that many people who smoke weed for years have sleep issues when they stop. It’s a major topic in aa and na. 
 

-humanist. 
 

 

You may have a solid point there humanist. I did it for about 7 years straight all day and at night too. A lot. I know what you mean by sleeping stoned. It was honestly comfortable and I didn't mind it.  I didn't dream much but it was fine. It's just a bummer that once I start trying to be clean in my life I get the sleep issues and panic attacks. This all lead me to a rabbit hole where I saw my gp and she gave me trazodone and hydroxyzine.

 

As proud as I am for quitting all substances (3months no weed, almost a year of no alcohol) I never felt that I had visual issues and this many floaters when I smoked. And I even remember the day I CT the trazodone. That weekend was immediate. I remember feeling so intense I was about to go to hospital. I would shut my eyes and notice intense things I've never witnessed visually. My after images lasted longer too. And the flickering of my peripheral as well. It sent me in a panic. I remember my body jerking awake every ten minutes or so. But I wanted to get off because the intense fear I'd get from being on it and the dread at work that followed was unbearable. I also got one auditory hallucination that set me off during those 19 days. Something i never had issues with.

 

I really hope whatever mechanisms in the brain that fix themselves can give me a break. I honestly sleep ok these days. A lot better than when I was on the medicines. I just hate these side effects since I got off and it's discouraging that my vision seems like the one things that hasn't really improved. I hope your journey in leaving this medication is a good one. I don't ever want to back even if it means I'm damaged now. I'm too frightened to even touch a simple tylenol because I feel like my CNS is still in shock. I'm about to hit my 2nd month anniversary from leaving it in a couple days. I hope things Improve 🙏

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

Posted
3 hours ago, xero said:

You may have a solid point there humanist. I did it for about 7 years straight all day and at night too. A lot. I know what you mean by sleeping stoned. It was honestly comfortable and I didn't mind it.  I didn't dream much but it was fine.

@xero I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. If you smoked that much and stopped you’re going to have PAWS. 
 

When I smoked I never had dreams I could remember and slept soundly. Marijuana is a heavy drug if used in excess. I’ve seen countless people in aa and na who’ve had major problems with it. 
 

Many in the marijuana lobby will try to portray it as not physically addicting. I say that’s BS. How could something with such a sedative effect not be? 
 

Anyway, that will get better but can take time. It may help for you to think of the PAWS associated with the CT marijuana in August and less about the short term use of the other. 

Do a google search on PAWS AND LONG TERM MARIJUANA USE. You’ll see what I’m talking about. I think that may make you feel better. It’s a very known issue and may help you get some perspective and not focus as much on the short term use of traz. 
 

I’m just a new member here, not a dr or counselor but I have had this experience and dealt with many others who have. 
 

Best wishes, you’ll get through this for sure!

 

-Humanist 

 

1998 -2000 started and stopped several SSRIs because of bad reactions, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin
2004 to 2006 Prozac 20mg

2004  Klonepin(daily 15 days)VERY bad cold turkey reaction after 15 days of use. 
2012, rehab inpatient alcohol, marijuana (sober since)

2012- present trazadone 50mg (At bedtime) tried twice to stop. 
2012-2017 Prozac 20mg, stopped Prozac CT without many problems. 

12/16/20- present lexapro 10 mg

12/27/20 started rapid lexapro taper 2.5mg every 2 days after only 11 days of use. Drug interaction problems with  trazadone suspected. 
1/2/21 last day of lexapro
1/321 now trying to stabilize on trazadone enough to begin taper. I was not using the trazadone in a consistent  way starting in late October and it thru me into wd  like symptoms. I was taking it at wildly different times each day because my sleep schedule (bed time) would fluctuate. 

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, Humanist56 said:

@xero I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. If you smoked that much and stopped you’re going to have PAWS. 
 

When I smoked I never had dreams I could remember and slept soundly. Marijuana is a heavy drug if used in excess. I’ve seen countless people in aa and na who’ve had major problems with it. 
 

Many in the marijuana lobby will try to portray it as not physically addicting. I say that’s BS. How could something with such a sedative effect not be? 
 

Anyway, that will get better but can take time. It may help for you to think of the PAWS associated with the CT marijuana in August and less about the short term use of the other. 

Do a google search on PAWS AND LONG TERM MARIJUANA USE. You’ll see what I’m talking about. I think that may make you feel better. It’s a very known issue and may help you get some perspective and not focus as much on the short term use of traz. 
 

I’m just a new member here, not a dr or counselor but I have had this experience and dealt with many others who have. 
 

Best wishes, you’ll get through this for sure!

 

-Humanist 

 

thx humanist 

i just miss my old sight :( 

i never had depression and now im left w/ dread after all of this 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

@xero  I am so sorry you are going through this. I am now going through a slow taper of amitriptyline, an anticholinergic drug, after a disastrous fast taper three years ago.

 

During the first taper I also had a weird sight problem, with flashes of light in the periphery of my right eye.  I went to an optometrist who told me I had a vitreous detachment.  It healed over several months.  But now even during my slow taper, it came back again, in both eyes, although it seems to have healed more quickly and I barely notice it now.

 

Anticholinergics (and I believe trazadone and hydroxine are in that category) can increase the pressure in the eye, and I think the drop in pressure after stopping the drugs may be a factor in causing this.  Just my theory.  But it will heal with time.  In the meantime, be gentle with your eyes (don't rub them) and avoid wearing contacts for awhile if that applies.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Started .25 mg. clonazapam Oct. 2016

Started 10 mg. Celexa Dec. 2016

Started 10 mg. amitriptyline January 2017

Also took 60 mg. Dexilant Oct. 2016 through April 2017, successfully tapered off

Stopped Celexa successfully Oct. 2017

Fast taper of amitriptyline Dec. 2017, had major WD symptoms and reinstated at 10 mg. Jan. 2018

Slow amitryptyline taper started Mar. 2019, reduced from 10 mg. to 0.93 mg. currently

Also still taking .25 mg. clonazapam daily in late evening

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
On 1/17/2021 at 11:21 AM, bijay said:

@xero  I am so sorry you are going through this. I am now going through a slow taper of amitriptyline, an anticholinergic drug, after a disastrous fast taper three years ago.

 

During the first taper I also had a weird sight problem, with flashes of light in the periphery of my right eye.  I went to an optometrist who told me I had a vitreous detachment.  It healed over several months.  But now even during my slow taper, it came back again, in both eyes, although it seems to have healed more quickly and I barely notice it now.

 

Anticholinergics (and I believe trazadone and hydroxine are in that category) can increase the pressure in the eye, and I think the drop in pressure after stopping the drugs may be a factor in causing this.  Just my theory.  But it will heal with time.  In the meantime, be gentle with your eyes (don't rub them) and avoid wearing contacts for awhile if that applies.

 

Hope this helps.

 

@bijay i appreciate the reply. I'm going on 3 months now since i stopped the medication and it's always interesting to hear how others have had visual issues when discontinuing ADs. I've been to a several eye DRs and a ret. specialist they haven't mentioned vitreous detachment but these meds definitely did something to my eyes/nervous system. i truly hope a year from now some of these side effects subside. The flickering and vibrating vision is a bore and makes me feel detached at many points. do you remember how many months exactly that you started to notice healing  or improvement in your sight? Did you also get a sudden onset of floaters? i got these dark ones that are everywhere 

Trazodone 10/19/20 - 11/6/2020 stopped cold turkey

Hydroxyzine 10/19/20 - 11/8/2020 

Stopped cold turkey

 

Posted

@xero    After the first onset of vitreous detachment (after the fast taper) it took about 3-4 months to go away.  The second time, more recently, it went away in about a month.   With the second occurence I also had visual snow, which only lasted a few days.  

 

I have floaters as well, but it seems like I have always had them to some extent, even as a kid.  My doctor has said that eventually the brain learns to ignore them.  For me they are really only bothersome when I am looking at a white background computer screen.

 

I know it can be very frustrating.  Hope you start seeing improvement in your eyes issues soon.  

 

Love and peace ❤

 

Started .25 mg. clonazapam Oct. 2016

Started 10 mg. Celexa Dec. 2016

Started 10 mg. amitriptyline January 2017

Also took 60 mg. Dexilant Oct. 2016 through April 2017, successfully tapered off

Stopped Celexa successfully Oct. 2017

Fast taper of amitriptyline Dec. 2017, had major WD symptoms and reinstated at 10 mg. Jan. 2018

Slow amitryptyline taper started Mar. 2019, reduced from 10 mg. to 0.93 mg. currently

Also still taking .25 mg. clonazapam daily in late evening

  • 2 years later...
Posted
On 1/30/2021 at 7:27 PM, bijay said:

@xero    After the first onset of vitreous detachment (after the fast taper) it took about 3-4 months to go away.  The second time, more recently, it went away in about a month.   With the second occurence I also had visual snow, which only lasted a few days.  

 

I have floaters as well, but it seems like I have always had them to some extent, even as a kid.  My doctor has said that eventually the brain learns to ignore them.  For me they are really only bothersome when I am looking at a white background computer screen.

 

I know it can be very frustrating.  Hope you start seeing improvement in your eyes issues soon.  

 

Love and peace ❤

 

Hello how are u?  

I got vitreous detachment from lexapro. Did urs complete or is uncompleted?? Scares me little bit. 

Lexapro Use History (2015-2022)

I have been using Lexapro for seven years, with many attempts to quit due to severe side effects.

  • 2015: I started taking 20 mg of Lexapro at age 24 for presentation/social anxiety induced by weed use.
  • 2016: I attempted to quit cold turkey (on my doctor's advice) but experienced extreme terror and anxiety, prompting me to reinstate the medication.
  • 2016: I tried to stop again cold turkey, resulting in severe OCD, social fear, and terror, leading to another reinstatement.
  • 2018: I reduced the dosage to 10 mg due to OCD, visual snow, and fatigue. I struggled with severe sickness for 2.5 years before stabilizing.
  • 2022: I attempted to taper off 10 mg almost cold turkey over one month (again on my doctor's advice), because I experienced even more adverse reactions and elevated inflammation markers.

I faced extreme protracted withdrawal symptoms with every attempt to stop, experiencing a wide range of symptoms.

 

After two years, I have healed about 30% and have seen even more improvements in some symptoms. I started to regain functions I hadn’t had for 10 years, and I began to feel hopeful about my healing journey.

However, in March 2024, I experienced an extreme crash/setback after taking a multivitamin that contained 50 mg of Panax ginseng, which I did not notice. I had taken the vitamin to help with a wave of swallowing issues related to my difficulty eating solid food.

As a result, I lost all my improvements, no longer have any windows of relief, and even developed new symptoms.

 

 

  • 9 months later...
Posted

Curious how you are. I'm just another victim to the antidepressants with visual symptoms.

Meds: (Daily)

Fluoxetine - 20mg

Vitamin d - 5000mg (recommended by PCP), Vitamin B12A, Allegra, Half capful of miralax

 

Timeline:

Prozac - 2020, 20mg

2022 - 10mg

2023, August - six week taper from 10mg every other day 2wks, 10 mg every third day 2/wks, 10 mg every fourth day 2/wks, stop.

2024, Feb - 20mg (God I wish I hadn't followed a dct advice so badly)

2024, April - 15mg

...? Been decreasing by .2mg every two weeks for the last two months

Now - 0.4mg

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